Cornerstone Community Church in Galax sponsored the first “Say Yes to the Dress: Prom Edition” prom dress drive last year to make it affordable for teens that might otherwise miss out on prom.
Some moms teared up, happily knowing that their daughters would actually be able to attend prom, and teen girls literally jumped for joy as they found the perfect dress.
This year, the prom dress drive will be held on Friday from 6-10 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m.-noon at Cornerstone on South Main Street in downtown Galax. This event is open to all area high school girls who plan to attend prom.
All dresses are $20.
So far, about 80 dresses have been collected in all sizes, styles and colors; last year, there were 130.
Cornerstone is asking girls to donate their gently used prom dresses to the event.
On the first day of the event last year, girls lined up down the street waiting and hoping to find a dress they could wear to prom.
“Moms said, ‘We weren’t sure how we were going to pay for the dresses,’” said Jennifer Morris, who came up with the idea for the church to host a prom dress drive. “One mom said that this was the answer to her prayers. Some said that if the church didn’t do this, their girls wouldn’t be able to go to the prom.”
Morris works with the church’s youth and her husband, Mike, is the pastor at Cornerstone.
At the beginning of this year, moms and teens began asking if Cornerstone had planned to hold the event again. “It was such as success last year, I knew we had to do it again,” said Morris. “And it was fun for us, too.”
Several teen boys showed up last year, waiting in the line with their friends, girlfriends and sisters.
This year, the guys are being included. They can come in and register for one of five free tuxedos to be given away, and the first 50 guys will get a gift certificate for a free corsage for their date.
“We didn’t want to leave the guys out,” said Morris. “We know that tux rentals can cost at least $100.”
A seamstress volunteered her services during the event, and some people made monetary donations.
The money that is raised during the event will be used for door prizes, dry cleaning and treat bags. The funds that are left over will go back to the church’s youth group outreach fund.
Door prizes will include certificates for hair, makeup, nails and dinner. Free refreshments will be available, and a men’s lounge will be set up while they wait.
“We have it set up like a real dress shop,” said Morris. “Girls have a full-length mirror and fitting rooms, and ladies provide assistance in finding the right dress or even help girls zip up the dresses.”
Volunteers are needed for the event to provide fitting room assistance for girls.

• Cornerstone is at 227 S. Main St. in Galax. For more information or to donate a dress, call 233-2567. The church is accepting donations up to the day of the event of all current styles, sizes and colors and sizes. Plus-size dresses are needed. To make a monetary donation, send checks to Cornerstone Community Church, P.O. Box 757, Galax, Va. 24333. Tax-deductible receipts are available upon request in exchange for a donated dress.